Starbucks will set up the first Italian food-featured cafe in China, highlighting Italian dishes and drinks, the company said Friday.

View of a cafe of Starbucks Coffee in Ningbo city, east China's Zhejiang province, 9 February 2019. [File Photo: IC]

The move came as part of the U.S. coffeehouse chain company's efforts to carry out a "purpose-driven growth agenda to play the long game in China," according to the company's statement.

The new store will be opened in Shanghai. In cooperation with Italian baker Rocco Princi, the cafe will offer freshly-prepared Italian food by Princi bakers onsite every day, such as traditional Italian dish frittata, focaccia sandwiches and Tiramisu.

Rocco Princi has selected more than 50 fresh ingredients sourced locally to ensure authentic Italian gourmet experience across different seasons in Shanghai.

The cafe also features an expanded menu, including coffee and tea-inspired cocktails, Italian classic cocktails like Aperol Spritz and Italian wines.

"Today marks yet another significant milestone as we take everything we have learned around coffee and our relentless pursuit for food innovation, to create a new exciting all-day cafe dining and Italian aperitivo experience," said Belinda Wong, CEO of Starbucks China, in the statement.

Starbucks currently has more than 3,700 stores in 158 cities in China, according to the statement.

Princi opened his first bakery in Milan in 1986, and set up stores in Chicago, New York, and London. He teamed up with Starbucks in 2016 to become the sole provider of baked goods at Starbucks Reserve Roasteries worldwide.